All Charges Dropped Against Joe Byron & Joe Grumbine

More than a year after Joe Byron and Joe Grumbine–who were featured in this Weekly cover story–were convicted of selling marijuana in Long Beach Superior Court, a has judge dismissed all charges against the two men. A courtroom observer tells the Weeklythat the courtroom hearing was just a routine scheduling meeting. But while Grumbine’s defense attorney was trying to negotiate a reduced plea for his client, Judge Arthur Jean called both sides to the bench. He then astonished the court by suddenly announcing that he was dismissing the case in the “interest of justice.”